Player Page

Menelik Watson | Tackle

Latest News

Recent News

Watson (6-5, 310) began his college career playing hoops at Marist before transferring to JUCO and finally landing at FSU for his senior year. He started 12 games at right tackle for the 'Noles and allowed just one sack. Disappointingly, Watson managed a 5.29 forty at the Combine and a 24.5-inch vertical. He did 19 bench reps at the Florida State Pro Day. A project with inconsistent tape, Watson is not quite as athletic as his billing and needs time in the weight room. Some project Watson to the left side due to perceived athletic upside, but we think his fit will ultimately place him on the right side. Fri, Apr 26, 2013 07:25:00 PM

Packers beat writer Bob McGinn spoke to one NFL scout who thinks a team will get "another bust" with FSU T Menelik Watson.

"He's not as athletic as people think," the scout added. "I don't think he's very tough. He doesn't play hard all the time." Watson, who will be 25 at some point this season, has been highly suggested to land in the first-round. "He's probably the best athlete of the bunch," another scout said. "For a guy his size I've never seen a guy with that much lateral ability, speed and explosive quickness." Fri, Apr 19, 2013 12:10:00 PM

The Sideline View's Lance Zierlein says FSU T Menelik Watson is a "lock" for the first-round.

Zierlein added that he doesn't see Watson making it past pick No. 27. The former basketball player and boxer played just one season at the FBS level as the starting right tackle for the Seminoles. A first-round selection seems tied to his projection, since teams likely believe they can improve his anticipation and hand location, which will result in better balance. Tue, Apr 16, 2013 12:12:00 PM

NFL.com's Gil Brandt believes FSU T Menelik Watson can play on the left side.

"Watson must have serious leadership qualities; at Marist College, the native of England was named a captain of the basketball team," Brandt writes. "He also must be a quick learner; the football novice played just one season on the gridiron after transferring to Saddleback College before becoming a starter at Florida State." Brandt ranks Watson as the No. 23 overall player in this class. Fri, Apr 12, 2013 11:01:00 AM

Player News

Packers beat writer Bob McGinn spoke to one NFL scout who thinks a team will get "another bust" with FSU T Menelik Watson.

"He's not as athletic as people think," the scout added. "I don't think he's very tough. He doesn't play hard all the time." Watson, who will be 25 at some point this season, has been highly suggested to land in the first-round. "He's probably the best athlete of the bunch," another scout said. "For a guy his size I've never seen a guy with that much lateral ability, speed and explosive quickness."

The Sideline View's Lance Zierlein says FSU T Menelik Watson is a "lock" for the first-round.

Zierlein added that he doesn't see Watson making it past pick No. 27. The former basketball player and boxer played just one season at the FBS level as the starting right tackle for the Seminoles. A first-round selection seems tied to his projection, since teams likely believe they can improve his anticipation and hand location, which will result in better balance.

NFL.com's Gil Brandt believes FSU T Menelik Watson can play on the left side.

"Watson must have serious leadership qualities; at Marist College, the native of England was named a captain of the basketball team," Brandt writes. "He also must be a quick learner; the football novice played just one season on the gridiron after transferring to Saddleback College before becoming a starter at Florida State." Brandt ranks Watson as the No. 23 overall player in this class.

Florida State T Menelik Watson has "gotten a ton of attention since his pro day," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Watson "now looks like he's going to be a first-round pick," per Schefter. "Some team is going to see Watson and the potential he has displayed and pounce on him." We think Watson posture, balance, and hand placement is far too inconsistent to be a first-round pick, but a team might project his athleticism to the left tackle spot.

FSU OL coach Rick Trickett said T Menelik Watson is a Top 5 talent in the draft.

"He's a top five talent in the draft," Trickett said. "He's not going to be picked in the top five because he just hasn't played enough. If this kid had played high school ball and then two or three years of college it wouldn't be a contest." Wilson is very raw but has upside to become a quality player.

Writing for the Houston Chronicle, Lance Zierlein believes FSU T Menelik Watson is two years away from seeing the field for an NFL team.

"Some teams will be projecting Watson as a first round prospect based purely on his raw potential and undeveloped talent, but there is no way you can look at the tape and see a tackle who is ready to come in and start in the NFL as a rookie," Zierlein writes. "What bothers me the most about Watson is that he loses his balance more than I would like and he clearly needs plenty of technique work and experience to catch up."

National Football Post's Russ Lande writes that most teams have Florida State OT Menelik Watson in the first round.

"Thickly built and possessing rare natural strength, Watson is still raw when it comes to technique and consistency, but his uncommon athleticism/feet for such a big man has vaulted him into the first round on most team’s draft boards," Lande wrote. "If he impresses in the positional drills and when he meets with teams over the next month, we have heard he could climb even higher and force himself into the top fifteen picks of the first round."

Florida State OT Menelik Watson met with the Baltimore Ravens during the NFL Scouting Combine.

"It was a good talk," Watson said. "I'll play either left tackle or right tackle. Whatever the team needs from me, I'm going to do." Although the Ravens offensive line played better after shuffling it late in the season, it could use upgrades at the tackle positions. Watson, who will be 25 in December, could be an option late in the first round.

Watson has been one of the fastest rising offensive tackles in this year's class. He is athletic and has been called a "natural left tackle" by NFL Network's Mike Mayock. It'll be interesting to see just how high the young athlete goes considering there are already three offensive tackles considered in the Top 10 to 12 picks.

Pauline adds that Watson is the offensive version of BYU pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah. Watson, a former basketball player, spent one season at the FBS level with Florida State and showed more consistency each week at right tackle. Expect some teams to project him to the left side.

"He has first-round talent. I know he's raw and undeveloped. But I get excited when I see a physical skill set as good as his," Mayock said in his draft conference. Watson is 6'5 1/8" and 310 pounds and has been rapidly rising up draft boards. In a class loaded with quality at the position, there's still a good chance Watson ends up being a first-round selection.

Florida State T Menelik Watson measured in at 6'5 1/8" and 310 pounds at the NFL Combine.

Watson's arms also checked in at 34 inches. The former basketball player is a great athlete and should remind many of Bruce Campbell during workouts. He spent the season on the right side, but teams could project him as a left tackle. A first-round pick is not out of the question.

Watson checks in at N. 15 while Johnson comes in just after at No. 16. For the Seminole, Prisco states that Watson has all the tools to be an elite NFL tackle. Johnson "has great athletic ability for a left tackle," Prisco writes. "He is still learning the position, which indicates a lot of growth potential."

Jaguars.com senior writer John Oehser implied that the team might address the right tackle position in the draft or free agency as they plan to incorporate more zone blocking.

Oehser adds a quote from offensive line coach George Yarno that implies change. "Sometimes change is a good thing," Yarno said. "Looking at things a little differently, doing things a little differently, sometimes the players will respond to that and respond quicker and maybe develop in a different direction. Hopefully we can get the most out of them."